BJP MLC joins NCP

NAGPUR, AUG 15: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislative council member Pandurang Hazare has joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He was promptly chosen by the NCP as its candidate for Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency.

It was only a fortnight ago that BJP leader and Public Works Minister Nitin Gadkari had denied press reports that Hazare was quitting the BJP. Hazare had contested as BJP candidate from Ramtek and secured over one lakh votes as against 2.40 lakh by the victorious Congress candidate Tejsinghrao Bhosale in 1991. Hazare had joined the BJP after deserting the Janata Dal.The BJP has fielded Minister for Forest Vinod Gudade-Patil as its nominee for Nagpur parliamentary seat. But he got the party ticket only after tendering a written apology to Gadkari. Both Gadkari and Patil are vying for supremacy in BJP in the district.

In an interview, he had said he did not accept Gadkari as his leader and, had even accused him of planting stories in the press against him.The Maharashtra BJP leadershiptook serious note of the media war’ between the two. Sensing that he would be denied a ticket even for the assembly, Patil chose to tender an apology.